The holding of the XVI edition of the Festival of pomace olive pomace deliver the award to Mayor Severiano Ballesteros is next and the Liébana everyone preparations. Starting with the owners of distilleries and major figures of the event, hotel, restaurant and even grocery stores that have to take stock of products to meet the needs of the thousands who will gather on 13th, 14 and 15 November.

Free tours 26 routes in the Picos de Europa National Park, organized by the Ministry of Environment, can be made until 30 September. The routes run through this natural area protected by three strands: Asturias, Cantabria and León. (Sigue leyendo.)

Your terrritorio which corresponds to the provinces of Cantabria, Asturias and León, is clearly divided into three massifs separated by deep gorges: the West (between gorges of Sella and Cares), Central (between the gorges of Cares, Duje and Nevandil ) and East (between the gorges of Duje and Deva). Cantabria is the total area of the Eastern Massif, although Cantabria only two populations are locked inside. Tresviso and Bejes. (Sigue leyendo.)

Picos de Europa mountains are located in northern Spain that belongs to the central part of the Cantabrian mountain range. Although not very extensive, its proximity to the sea makes it rich in features of interest.

This limestone formation extends Asturias, Cantabria and Castilla y Leon (more precisely by the province of Leon) and it highlights their heights, in many cases above the 2500 meters, so close to the Cantabrian Sea are therefore at its northernmost point is only 15 kilometers distance from the sea. Geographically, the Peaks of Europe are in the line of the Cantabrian Mountains, although considered as a separate unit for it by their most recent training.

Peaks of Europe are divided into three massifs: the West Cornión Massif, the Massif Central or the East and the massive Urrieles or walk.

The highest elevations are in the mountains of Urrieles, passing through the most rugged of the three, since fourteen of its peaks exceeding 2600 meters in altitude, with Torrecerredo of 2648 meters, roof of the mountains and the Iberian Peninsula, except the Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada. Another mountain is in this context is the Naranjo de Bulnes Urriellu or PICU, of great historical importance in the Spanish mountaineering. It was first conquered in 1905 by Pedro Pidal, Marquis of Villaviciosa and first roped in by his partner, a native of Cain Valdeón Gregorio Perez DeMaría.

In the massive West Cornión, named for the shape of a horn that offers its silhouette as seen from the west, highlights the Peña Santa, with its 2596 meters above sea level exceeds 110 to the next summit of the massif, the Tower Torre de Santa Maria or Santa Enol. For these two mountains, and Peña Santa Tower Santa, this mountain is also known as the Peñas Santas.

The massive East, also known as walking by being in the circus of the same name, is the most modest of the three, both in height (the roof of the Morra Lechugales reaches 2444 m elevation) and vertical.

Etymology

Some historians have come to identify the Peaks of Europe with the legendary Monte Vindio in which, according to the chronicler Anneo Lucio Floro, Cantabrians took refuge in the Roman legions, and where they thought that had to climb the waves rather than weapons Rome.

In Ora Maritime agrees Rufo Festo, which records the journey of a 530 a. massaliota C., and describes how the sailors came to the Cantabrian coast to Brittany, distinguished these mountains.

In the year 1530 the historian Lucius Marineo Siculo already called the Rupes Europae. Ambrosio Morales, chronicler of Philip II, quoted in 1572 as the Mountains of Europe. Fray Prudencio de Sandoval, in 1601, called Peñas saws or Europe, like the Portuguese Rodrigo Mendez Silva, Gregory of Argaiz Benedictine, Jesuit Luis Alfonso de Carballo and also a Benedictine monk Francisco de la Sota.

There are many theories on why this name were the Picos de Europe. It has been traditionally associated with the origin of their names to the fact that supposedly was the first European to land sailors coming American currency, although this assumption is not shared by many scholars such as JJ.

Other hypotheses suggest that the name comes from the surprise for visitors to the peninsula to find these supposed strongest limestone cliffs on the borders of Europe, or to have been coined by the Central pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela, to be named to these mountains its resemblance to the Alps.

As was the reality is it is not known for sure why this great meaning for these summits, especially bearing in mind that the inhabitants of the counties next to them simply call the peaks. Since it was not until the nineteenth century when the name of Europe Peaks to become commonly accepted.

Geography

Peaks of Europe are located within the line, from west to east, took the Cantabrian Mountains. Cover a roughly rectangular area about 20 kilometers from north to south and about 35 from west to east, which is about 550 square kilometers.

So modest in length and are rich in number of ridges and peaks, being in excess of fourteen 2600 meters, forty more than 2500 meters, nearly two hundred and fifty of over two thousand meters.

The different masses are defined by rivers and through the escort. Thus the set of Picos de Europe is limited by Sella and Dobra rivers to the west and the east by Deva. Two other rivers, the Cares and Duje makers were in a million years of work, carve valleys that run today and thus shape the three massifs. The Cares of Cornión separates Urrieles and, further east, the mountain range separates these Duje gait.

Administratively, these mountains are located in three different communities, such as Asturias, Cantabria and Leon (in the community of Castilla y Leon). Notably, the central area of the Peaks, the Urrieles virtually the equity capital of these three provinces, Oviedo, Santander and Leon, always about 85-90 km from them. It is also noteworthy Pico Treasurer, in the Massif Central, as the limit point where the three provinces mentioned above.

Leon is the province that provides the ground Peaks, followed by Asturias and Cantabria finally.

It is the largest of the three forests and has been limited by Sella rivers Dobra and west and the east Cares. Administratively it is located between Asturias and Leon, in particular in the municipalities of Asturias Amieva, Cabrales, and Onís Cangas de Onis and Sajambre Leonese and Valdeón.

It is very important to note that this group of mountains which are also the lakes of Covadonga, and the sanctuary of the same name, incorporated since 1918 the first National Park created in Spain. By then it was called Mountain National Park of Covadonga, being renovated, expanded and renamed in 1995, receiving the designation of National Park of Picos de Europe. In this massif can be divided into different areas to be further north and south.

North Zone
La Torre de Santa Maria (2,476 m).
2200 meters from the summit to the village of Torrecerredo Cain, here seen from Cuvicente.

The northernmost area is adorned Cornión of the lakes of Covadonga where from the south, is gaining height as they approach shelters Vegarredonda (1,420 m) and Vega de Ario (1,615 m). A height of the viewpoint is Ordiales, characteristic of this mountain and where are the remains of Pedro Pidal. The refuge is a good Vegarredonda crossing point to reach the central and western, while the Vega de Ario, also called Marquis of Villaviciosa in honor of the conqueror of Orange, is in the Eastern mountain range. From this point, and also from the neighboring peaks Jultayu and Cuvicente you can splendid views of the Massif Central wall. In these two summits, at about 2000 meters of altitude can also be seen, below 1500 meters in the valley, the village of Cain, the midpoint of the Cares Route, in the south to north, part of Posada and reaches of Valdeón Camarmeña, but that is from where Cain offers more spectacular views. Prominent among the shelter of Ario de Vega and the summit of Jultayu the System Jitu, chasm of great importance that reaches a depth of 1135 meters.

Other peaks to highlight in this area is in its northernmost part, the Jascal (1,724 m) and Cabezo Leros (1,798 m). Going south elevations appear more important and from Cuvicente southwest (towards the area of Peñas Santas) appear as the Peña Blanca Mountains or Robliza, surpassing both the 2200 meters.

Central Zone

The natural way to enter the central area of the Cornión, that prior to the area of Peñas Santas, is Vegarredonda. The eastern part of this area consists of mountains as Cotalba (2,026 m), the Porrua Llagu (1,926 m) or the Tower of Three Poyones (2092 meters the highest). Special mention is Porrua Bolu (2,025 m), a massive granite that the gap is similar to the PICU Urriellu and offers ways of great difficulty to reach its summit. Also of note, and looking the foothills of the Santa Maria Tower, the Arga, a set of peaks to the north-south alignment of which is the most southern elevation (2,152 m).

Area of Peñas Santas
First snow in Peña Santa.

Around Jou Santo are the most relevant peaks of this massif, including all those on Santa Peña (2,596 m). The second is the height of Torre Santa Enol or Torre de Santa Maria (2,486 m) happens to be the other main protagonist Cornión, seconded to the north by the needle Enol. West of the Tower of Santa Maria are the five towers Cebolleda, reaching a height of 2438 meters. South of the Santa Tower beyond hanging Santa Maria (2,346 m), are north-south alignment in the Tower of the gallows, Enmedio Tower, the Tower of the Three Marys and the Tower of Torca. Only Forcadona (2,304 m) separates the tower twists, the huge wall that forms the west to east Peña Santa. Escorted other peaks are of considerable importance, as the needle Corpus Christi and southwest Gato needle or needle Jose Prado, almost entirely in the imposing south wall of the roof of Cornión.

Jou Santu’s northeast, and separate from the tower of St. Mary of the Jou Asturianos are the Pico Asturianos, the Torre de la Canal Parda and Travieso.

Fields of Bermeja

Southern Cornión is dominated by the Torre Bermeja, which dominates with its 2400 meters in height at all elevations of your environment. Among these are to the north (between Bermeja Peña and Santa) as the mountains of Torres Cotalbín, Punta Extremera, the Cuetalbo, and further west, the Upper Verde. All these elevations approaching 2,200 meters.

Closest to Torre Bermeja, west of it, are the Moledizos I and II in 2254 and 2295 meters respectively. Al sur de la Torre Bermeja heights are also relevant, such as the neck Pardo (2,302 m), Torres Pardo (2317, 2316 and 2236 meters), the Torre de Ita (2,236 m), the Torre Ciega (2,240 m ) and the Towers of Aresta (2136, 2125 and 2122 meters).

Still further south of these summits is a mountain area of around 2000 meters above sea level, such as Canto Cabronero (1,996 m) and Peña Beza (1,958 m). More modest in height are the mountains around Vegabaño, where at 1300 meters is another mountain. Of them deserve to be highlighted Jari Peak (1,913 m), the Neon Pica (1,792 m) and Peña Dobres (1,796 m), all of them near the village of Soto de Sajambre.

Situated between the valleys carved by rivers and Duje Cares is the Massif Central, no doubt the most rugged and vertical Picos de Europe. Administratively it is shared by Asturias, Cantabria and Castilla y Leon, and has the greatest heights of the three massifs, as 38 of its peaks exceeding 2500 meters, with fourteen of them (curiously, the same number of eight is on the planet) above of 2600 meters. Only Peña Santa, in the western mountains, would be in that group of 38 mountains above 2500 meters.

While less extensive than the Cornión, the massif of Urrieles has more surface than the previous high mountain, crowned with Torrecerredo with its 2648 meters of altitude. However, it is not at that point where the legend of this mountain in particular and Picos de Europe in general. To find it we must go east to the heart of Urrieles towards the Naranjo de Bulnes Urriellu or PICU, a true symbol of the mountains of Asturias and place have been written since its conquest in 1905, the most beautiful pages of Spanish mountaineering. An example is the opening of the first track on her face west, 550 meters of vertical limestone Rabada by Alberto and Ernesto Navarro in 1962, or via the “Winter Dreams”, for the achievement of which José Luis García Gallego & Miguel Ángel Díez Vives were hung on the wall for 69 days without interruption.

Like the Cornión, the central massif can be divided into different areas for a more simple and understandable.

Main group of the Peña

From north to south, the peaks are the first group of the Peña Maine, which includes the Cueto Redondo, Head Table (with 1605 meters is the highest in this set) or Cabecina Quemada. From any of them are spectacular views from the heart of the Urrieles.

To the west is Bulnes, people who, by their situation and by the isolation to which geography has undergone for centuries, perhaps represents the best that human presence in this environment so hostile. Bulnes from across the Channel Balcosín first, and the Channel Camburero later, we reach the base of the beak with which it shares its name, Naranjo de Bulnes.

PICU Group Urriellu
Approaching Naranjo

The boundaries of this spectacular series of summits we can put between the Collado de Santa Ana to the south and Peña Castil in its northern part.

Starting from the south are the Torres del Tiro Navarro (2,602 m), set of three summits the highest of which is the only one that exceeds 2600 meters. Farther north, through the hanging Infanzon (2,482 m) are the Bell, a triple whose highest peak reaches 2572 meters. East of the package and through the Infanzon Jou is the Torre de los Tiros de Santiago and somewhat further north, the Cuchallón of Villasobrada (2,416 m).

El Naranjo de Bulnes shapes, along with its mountain surroundings, Jou after PICU, a circle of mountains in the interior that leaves a hole as deep as spectacular. Starting from the north along the sense shown clockwise Carnizoso Tower (2,332 m), Torre del Oso (2,461 m), and Victor Risco, through the so-called false Collada Bonita, Needle of Martinez (2,422 m) from where it descends to the Collada Bonita (2,382 m), privileged to observe the south side of the PICU. Continuing south is the Tower of Colladetas (2,456 m) and then the Morra, top two-man that has a maximum height of 2554 meters, which is supposed to be the highest of all around, along with orange, Jou after the PICU. The area west of Jou after PICU is covered by the Tiros Torca (2,386 m), a prelude to the south of the PICU Urriellu (2,519 m), that part of the Canal de la Celada Urriellu toward Vega.

East of this set would be the only Castil Peña (2,444 m), an imposing pyramid that marks the end of the north of the great heights of Urrieles.

Group Torrecerredo
Torrecerredo and Bastards. Among them, the western massif always chaired by Peñas Santas.
Torrecerredo in the Central Massif (2,648 m).

Geographically this area is located west of the PICU Urriellu and more confined to the west by the River Cares. From north to south, beginning with the Murallón of Amuela quickly gaining height to set the initial peaks, such as the Trave Cuetos (2253 meters high) and, after exceeding the Collada Water Dobresengros peak (2,395 m). With the same name was named the Channel Dobresengros via the vicinity of that of Cain and that accessed after saving a drop of two thousand meters, the highest peaks of this area.

South of Pico Dobresengros appears, imposing the set of Bastards. First needle Bastards (2,474 m) and Pico of Bastards (2,553 m) summit of beautiful stylized silhouette, eastward to blanket the Bastards Jou, especially arid zone and the location of Jose Refugio Ramón Lueje (2,035 m) and Trave System, a set of three potholes which, with its 1441 meters of depth is the most important peaks.

Almost without rest will reach the symbol of this area, Torrecerredo (2,648 m), Urrieles the ceiling to the highest point in many hundreds of miles. He is also a privileged place to observe the holy mountain of rocks.

The Torrecerredo is escorted by two needles unique names, because their walls are made Risco Saint Saud (2,575 m) and slightly below Labrouche Tower (2,525 m). These summits are named after two famous people of Picos de Europe, the Count of Saint Paul and Saud Labrouche, and colleagues discovered many times during the late nineteenth century, many of the secrets of these mountains.

Continuing south, close to the Tower is Torrecerredo Bermeja (2,606 m) and, after passing the Bermeja Collada (2,485 m), Coello Tower (2,584 m). Turning east and then north, lies the Bear Tire (2,576 m) and after passing the fork of Don Carlos (2,418 m), Boada of the Peak (2,523 m). Finally, the Tower of Brown (2,596 m) summit that offers spectacular views to the west face of the Naranjo de Bulnes and Torrecerredo and, further, to Cornión.

From the Tower of Pardo in the north is the Neverón of Urriellu (2,559 m), another privileged balcony from which to admire the west side of Orange and the Tooth Urriellu. Further north, after crossing the gallows Arenero arises all Albos. In this group are the heights Neverón Albo (2,442 m), Cueto Albo (2,414 m), Albo Peak (2,442 m) and the three areneros Torres (2445 meters high). Since the Albos, continuing north, take the Canal Camburero and then the Balcosín until the people of Bulnes.

Group Peña Vieja
The south side of the Naranjo de Bulnes

On the south side of the area, ie the Bear Tire, following the border Asturian-Leonese, stand Arenizas Picos, triple summit of which reaches 2515 meters height. Following this path south of the stylish and Urrieles appears Treasurer pyramidal peak (2,570 m), significant for its beauty and peculiar as the point where the three provinces that share the territory of Picos de Europe, that is, Asturias, Cantabria and Leon. Also spectacular is the landscape that gives one that reaches its peak, it gives light to almost all relevant points of Urrieles.

Plotting the line that separates Leon and remains the divide between Asturias and Cantabria to the east stands the tower of the Red Forks (2,506 m) and beyond, the Picos de Santa Ana (the highest of which exceeds by one meter barrier of 2,600).

In a southeasterly direction, in Cantabrian territory, two sharp needles, of the gutters and Bustamante, precede Peña Vieja, with its 2619 meters is the highest elevation of this whole mountain and all Cantabria. To the south, and on the edge of this massif is the forgotten Peña (2,430 m) northeast from the Picos de Santa Ana will reach the Torres del Tiro Navarro as discussed above. The set Arenizas, Treasurer, Forks Red, Santa Ana Navarro and Tire Jou shape of the bowls, which is south of Jou landless, who in turn would further north in the Vega de Urriellu.

In the opposite direction, south of the Forks was the Reds Jou landless, whose northwest corner is home to Cabaña Verónica (2,325 m), the most singular of all peaks are in, because their structure is the metal dome the air defenses of a carrier ship.

North of Peña Vieja Cuetos through so-called San Juan de la Cuadra to enter Asturian territory is to agree the Valley Moneta, leaving the group to the west and reaching the PICU Urriellu on the road to Las Vegas to Sotres (limit East of Urrieles) the picturesque Lake of the Monet.

Some relevant summits of this small mountain would Cotera Rojas (2295 meters the highest), the Garmon (2,291 m), Cuetu of Cuadra (2,231 m), the Paredon Albo (2,125 m) or Escamelláu (2,063 m ).

In the foothills east of Peña Vieja for Praderías are alive, where born Duje, and serve as a division between the Massif Central mountain range and the walk, besides being a place of great beauty, being very busy road between the station top of the cable car of Fuente Dé, and people Espinama reason it was considered one of the gates of Liebana in the Picos de Europe. Here we Refuge alive, still the most ability among those in the vicinity of the Peaks.

Sector Llambrión
Llambrión area.

In this area in the southwest of the Massif Central is the largest concentration of elevations of Picos de Europe, with various heights of over 2600 meters. Specifically covers nine of the fourteen peaks that exceed 2600 meters.

Around the Tower Llambrión (2642 meters and roof of this series) can be found at altitudes of great importance and it all very close. Notes, which makes it match the rivals Llambrión, Throw Tirso, with 2641 meters of altitude. Also the name without Torre (2638 meters and is currently in the process of being named Schulze Tower in honor of this pioneering figure in the Picos de Europa), la Torre Casiano de Prado (2,622 m), the Tower of Llastrias (2,621 m), the White Tower (2,617 m), Torre de la Palanca (2,614 m), Torre Peñalba (2,607 m) and Torre del Hoyo Grande (2,602 m). Al sur de la Torre Casiano de Prado one can also mention the Tower of Coal Mine, which is 2595 meters in altitude.
The imposing Murallón North Tower of the lever (2,614 m).

Southeast of the White Tower was raised significant elevations, such as the Tire sore, or the Madejuno Casares shots in the vicinity of Cottage Veronica. Continuing southeast, other peaks emerging as the Torre del Hoyo Oscuro, Pico San Carlos, Tower Peak Altáiz or the Padierna, are approaching towards towards Fuente Dé, on the southern tip of Urrieles.

West of the Tower of the three major lever rise towers, the Diego Mella, Delgado Úbeda and the Tower of Peñalba. Following in the west is beginning to lose height with peaks up to the lesser significance riverbed Cares. Importantly, soon to begin the journey towards the river, the Torre de la Celada (2,470 m), both by its height as the other name by which it has been baptized, Torre de Don Pedro Pidal, in honor of man whose name is probably the most important in the history of these mountains.

Las Peñas Cifuentes
The Forks of the Red Tower (2506 meters) is one of the most significant mountain is located in the Massif Central.

In the southernmost part of the Urrieles, specifically between Cordiñanes and power, stands a huge wall of mountains is called the Peñas Cifuentes. Remarkable extent, can be divided into three areas with the two steps to traverse.

In the west, near the River Cares, emphasizes the needle Maria del Carmen, which is followed by the drunk, to Cantadota and Tower of Mojosas. Each of these mountains is gaining in height, around this tower Mojosas of two thousand meters. Further east, bordering to the south of the Hole Mojosas appears Needle Maria Luisa (2,386 m) and immediately Frier Tower (2,445 m), although not by enough, the tallest this set, it is the mountain that has the most spectacular and difficult walls, especially in its northern side.

Further east we reach the Canal de la Chava (2,160 m) which separates the area from central Frier, chaired by the Tower of Salinas (2,446 m). But before reaching the roof of this set is the Torre del Hoyo Chico (2356 m) and Torre del Hoyo de Liordes (2,474 m), the roof of the training.

Following this direction is the channel Pedavejo (2,030 m), which gives way to the Alto de la Canal, the rocks of the liquorice (triple summit, the highest being 2229 m), Alcacero Tower (2,247 m) Peña and Remon (2,227 m). Further down towards Fuente Dé, a thousand meters below.

East of Fuente Dé, and outside of the Peñas Cordal Cifuentes, the peaks are Joracao or Valdemoro, of around 1800 meters, which mark the end of the Urrieles southeast.

As noted above, the solid ride is the least extensive of the three and also the less rich in high places. Its main axis runs from southwest to northeast, dividing into two strands at the point where they concentrate their greatest heights, about Circus walk. This massif is escorted by Duje river Deva in the west and east and administratively located between Asturias and Cantabria.

The first line of mountains that are seen by the South Summit Oats. The southernmost peak of this set is the Castro Cogollos (1,692 m), then there is the peak of the Ox (1,870 m), Joracón de la Miel (1,902 m), the peak of the Canal Arenosa (1,882 m) and peak Corvo’s (1,878 m).

Through the Chamber collado access the very heart of the East Massif. Along northeast-southwest alignment in the first chamber Peaks (2,050 m), followed Pozán Peak (2,188 m), also known as Jiso, which forms the southeast ridge route climbing largest solid ride.

Continuing north and heights are relevant, such as Cortés Prao (2,288 m) and Pico Cortés (2,373 m). Also on the Oak Cueto (2,193 m), which gives way to the Morro de Lechugales, maximum height of the mountain with 2444 meters of altitude.

Further north are the peaks of Jierru (2,422 m) and the Pica Jierru (2,421 m), also known as the Evangelist or the roll Infanta. At this point there is a fork that goes to the north Valdominguero Peak (2,265 m), and the Malata Cuetu the Vezada which will give, west of Las Vegas Sotres.

Following Valdominguero Peak to the north stand of Spades Jou Landless (2,159 m the highest of the two), the Cuetu Tejáu (2,129 m), the PICU Boro, the Cuetu the Clabreros and finally, the Pica Suns Source , which will give the Jitu of Escarandi, northern boundary of solid walking.

From Pico Valdominguero northeast there are other peaks, including Pico Soriano (2,161 m) and Cuetos of Ramazan and the trails (both at about 1900 meters altitude), near the refuge of Casetón walk. On the other side of the sanctuary rises Macondíu peak of 1999 meters.

Also noteworthy are the peaks which are east of the Morro de Lechugales, such as the Silla del Caballo Cimera (2,436 m) and south of it, the Table of Pino (2,154 m).

Pica’s Jierru from a mountain range extends to the northwest as it crosses the summit of Pico de Arriba Grajal (2,349 m), Pico de Grajal Bottom (2248 m), Grajal Castle (2,091 m) of the Rasa the endless (2,284 m) and Cueto del Diablo (2,267 m), also known as the Junciana.

East of the Peak rises Junciana of the Sacred Heart, and with 2214 meters of great significance because since last year of the nineteenth century held by the local people, a ceremony on its summit. Desde esta cima en dirección este, a través de la Horcada Jonfría (1.988 m) se encuentran cimas como el Pico de la Jonfría (2.067 m), el Castillín (2.042 m), el Alto de los Novillos (2.033 m) o, ya en el extremo oriental, la Peña del Roblo (1.775 m).

Drawing on the Peak of the Sacred Heart, rising to the north and the other heights Samelar Peak (2,227 m), Canto de la Concha (2,093 m), the Alto de las Verdiana (2,024 m). , and below two thousand meters, Becerreras the Becerreras of Cueto and Columbros. From the Top of the collar and through Verdiana of Llaguno (1,948 m) rising on the eastern edge of the bed to walk, as the summit of Pico Agudín of 1976 meters of altitude. The following peaks (Peak Steel Tarabillera of Pico, Pico Pana, Cueto of the Llosa and Ciruenzo Mayor) are gradually losing height until about three thousand meters and reach the place where, on the east end Picos de Europe.

Culture

The terrain and weather in the Picos de Europe have defined over time some very particular characteristics of its inhabitants. Livestock and grazing mountain forage production and storage of hay for winter activities are typical of the area. Also the variety of cheeses made in different counties, like Cabrales, Liebana, Gamonedo or the famous cheese Valdeón attach another feature.

Animals
The Chamois, King of the Peaks.

Of the fauna in the Picos de Europa is the chamois (Rupicapra parva Rupricapra). Their presence in the higher elevations of the mountains is as spectacular as surprising is their agility in a difficult spot because it is the only one who dares to venture into areas Picos higher.

In most places there are available a greater variety of species such as roe deer, deer, wild boar, fox, wolf or bear. In rivers, otters, water blackbird, the kingfisher, the Atlantic salmon and trout. And above all the peculiar grouse, although their presence is greater in the Cantabrian Mountains, here you can also see and hear his song. The capercaillie inhabits forests, where it coexists with black cock (Dryocopus martius), partridge, wild cats, the dormouse, squirrels and genets.

Among the more than 100 varieties of birds can be found in the park, is large raptors such as golden eagles, toed eagle, the vulture, the griffon vulture and bearded vulture. They live the Red-billed Chough, Chough piquigualda and the crow. And you can see the flight of acentor, the sparrow and the Alpine Pipit.

Flora

The proximity of the Peaks of Europe to the coast, about thirty kilometers, allowing them to develop plant species both Atlantic and Mediterranean. Peaks present in the vegetation can be distinguished according to the height you are. Thus, you can identify the areas dominated by oak, beech and oak.

Above 1,500 meters, due to the altitude and the rugged terrain, the presence is limited plant, where the ground permits, the alpine meadows. Highlight species Saxifraga Sedum and between the cracks of rocks. The lower height can highlight the presence of plant species such as ash, juniper, birch, walnut or lime. Also some species of flowers, the Cantabrian aquiline, the wallflower of the field or evergreen. We can find carnivorous plants such as Pinguicula vulgaris.
“300 million years were needed for the Peaks of Europe presented its current topography, different foldings and glaciations have shaped its tortuous landscape of high mountains chaired by needles and sharp edges impressive, deep gorges and twisted crossed by crystal clear water to give way to lush valleys covered with forests and grasslands ”

Represents the Atlantic forest ecosystems linked. Peaks of Europe have the largest limestone formation of Atlantic Europe, with significant karst processes, potholes reaching 1,000 m, glacial erosion and the presence of very clear lakes.

Among his chamois inhabits the cliffs in dense forests and the deer in the valleys there are still wolves. In the Park is home to more than 140 different birds, which include the capercaillie and the black cock, and between large predators the griffon vulture and golden eagle. But here is much more than scenery, there are centuries of history written in the villages, in valleys, in churches, in the cabins of its ports and roads.

But here is much more than scenery, there are centuries of history written in the villages, in valleys, in churches, in the cabins of its ports and roads.